U.S. patent number 4,084,733 [Application Number 05/782,616] was granted by the patent office on 1978-04-18 for glove form.
Invention is credited to Frank Perlmutter.
United States Patent |
4,084,733 |
Perlmutter |
April 18, 1978 |
Glove form
Abstract
A form for drying and shaping golf gloves and the like consists
of a vacuum formed unitary thin sheet plastic element which
possesses springiness. The form is ribbed or scalloped
longitudinally of its finger and palm portions to promote drainage
and free circulation of drying air while allowing only minimal
surface contact between the form and glove supported thereon.
Extreme simplicity and economy of manufacturing are featured.
Inventors: |
Perlmutter; Frank (Atlanta,
GA) |
Family
ID: |
25126624 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/782,616 |
Filed: |
March 30, 1977 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/78;
D2/623 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F
59/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06F
59/04 (20060101); D06F 59/00 (20060101); A41D
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;223/78,85,87,75,76,66,61,80 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Troutman; Doris L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby
Claims
I claim:
1. A glove form for drying and shaping gloves comprising a unitary
formed thin sheet material form body having a substantial degree of
resiliency at least in the transverse direction, said form body
simulating the shape of a natural hand and including spaced finger
extensions of generally U-shaped cross section and side walls
rearwardly of the finger extensions, one side of the form body
being open whereby the entire form body possesses a cavity, and the
form body having a multiplicity of corrugations formed
longitudinally therein and extending from the wrist end of the form
body to the forward ends of said finger extensions.
2. A glove form as defined in claim 1, and said finger extensions
having side wall portions extending from the forward tips of the
finger extensions to points near the longitudinal center of the
form body where the side wall portions are joined with a top wall
of the form body simulating the back of a natural hand.
3. A glove form as defined in claim 2, and said top wall of the
form body having some of said longitudinal corrugations which are
extensions of corrugations in the finger extensions and also having
additional longitudinal corrugations which terminate at the bases
of the finger extensions, whereby said top wall is continuously
corrugated across substantially the entire width of the form
body.
4. A glove form as defined in claim 2, and said finger extensions
further having leading end walls joined with said side wall
portions whereby the entire margin of the form body is continuously
skirted and the form body is of shell-like formation and open at
its rear end.
5. A glove form as defined in claim 1, wherein said sheet material
is moldable plastics material and said form body is vacuum
formed.
6. A glove form as defined in claim 1, and said longitudinal
corrugations are transversely arched and are approximately of equal
size throughout the length of the form body.
7. A glove form as defined in claim 1, and the form body being
somewhat arched transversely and said side walls being configured
to simulate the varying thickness of a natural hand throughout its
length.
8. A glove form as defined in claim 2, and said corrugations
projecting above the top wall portions of said finger extensions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Glove forms for drying and other purposes are known in the art and
some examples of the prior patented art are found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
3,524,285; 2,783,925; 3,409,142 and 3,486,670.
In the known prior art devices of this general character, the forms
tend to be restricted in their usage to gloves of one size or at
least a very small range of sizes. Also, the prior art forms are
not configured to impart a natural shape to the glove during the
drying process and they tend to be rigid and excessively heavy and
frequently expensive.
Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide an
improved glove drying and shaping form which is manufactured at
minimal expense, is lightweight and unitary, and possesses the
degree of resiliency as well as the configuration necessary to
promote efficient drying while imparting a natural shape to the
glove.
More particularly, the glove form of the invention is embodied in a
unitary thin plastics material member which is preferably vacuum
formed to a precise configuration. The form is springy for the
purpose of supporting gloves of more than one size in a taut
condition while they are drying. The very lightweight and very
economical form is also ribbed at its finger and palm areas to
promote drainage and to minimize total surface contact between the
form and gloves mounted thereon. An absolute minimum of material is
required to manufacture the plastic glove form and the general
shell-like or concave nature of the form renders it most efficient
for drying and shaping golf gloves which are soaked with
perspiration.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent
during the course of the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partially broken away perspective view of a glove form
embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a transverse section through the form in the finger
region taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, showing a
modification.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like
parts, and referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, a glove form embodying
the invention is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10 and
is formed as a unit from a section of thin sheet thermoplastic
material by vacuum forming. In this operation, the sheet material
is heated in a vacuum forming machine and then drawn by vacuum
against the molds or dies. Thereafter the sheet is cooled and the
forms die cut from the sheet. The technique is well known in the
art.
The unitary lightweight and inexpensive glove form thus produced is
springy and can conform itself to gloves of different sizes.
Usually one form will fit at least two size gloves. The form is
also tough and durable and is shaped to impart to any glove thereon
a natural shape during the glove drying process. FIGS. 2 and 3 in
phantom lines show a golf glove 11 or the like applied to the form
10 and following the contours thereof. It can be noted that the
glove form lacks a thumb section and the glove thumb merely hangs
freely while on the form. The absence of a thumb portion on the
form considerably reduces manufacturing costs and also allows
gloves to be more easily fitted onto the form.
Continuing to refer to the drawings, the unitary sheet plastic form
10 is shell-like or concave and open at its side corresponding to
the front of the hand and the wall of the form is placed in the
article where the back of the natural hand would be located. As
clearly shown in FIG. 3, the inner or wrist end of the glove form
is closed by a transverse flat plate 12.
The form 10 is longer than the glove it receives and comprises a
hand body portion 13 which, as stated, simulates the back of the
natural hand from the wrist forwardly toward the fingers. It also
includes separated discrete finger portions or extensions 14
corresponding to the four digits of the natural hand. Each finger
extension 14 is roughly U-shaped in cross section and open toward
the frontal side of the form. Each finger extension includes spaced
curvilinear side walls 15 connected by an upper wall which includes
preferably three parallel longitudinal transversely curved, spaced
corrugations 16 or ribs which extend for the entire lengths of the
finger extensions. The finger extensions 14 also have short front
walls 17, FIG. 3, around which the corrugations 16 are extended as
at 17' with a smoothly curved contour. As best shown in FIG. 3, the
finger side walls 15 extend from the tips of the finger extensions
to the body portion 13 and at this point the side walls 15
terminate and their edges 18 blend or fade into the wall of hand
body portion 13. The side walls 15 and 20, FIG. 3, are gently
curved longitudinally and vary in depth to impart a natural
longitudinal curvature and overall thickness to the glove form.
The body portion 13 is somewhat arched transversely of the form and
also has multiple longitudinal parallel preferably curved
corrugations 19, some of which corrugations are continuations of or
merge into the finger corrugations 16 and therefore extend for
substantially the full length of the glove form. Other corrugations
19 in the hand body portion 13 terminate at the bases of the finger
extensions as is clearly shown in FIG. 1. All corrugations or
ridges 19 terminate inwardly of plate 12.
The body portion 13 has opposite side curvilinear walls 20 integral
therewith and at the thumb side of the glove form the side wall 20
is forwardly enlarged to produce a rounded shoulder portion 21 at
the point where the base of the natural thumb would normally be
located. This shoulder blends gradually into the side wall 15 of
the adjacent finger extension 14 corresponding to the natural index
finger. As explained, the glove form does not include a full thumb
extension.
During use, the glove 11 such as a wet golf glove is placed over
the form 10 and the springiness of the form will facilitate the
application of the glove to the form and following application will
tend to hold the glove taut on the form and open so that air can
circulate freely through the interior of the glove for drying it.
The corrugations or ribs 16 and 19 serve several purposes. They
enhance the resiliency of the finger extensions for the
above-stated purposes of facilitating glove application to the form
and expanding the finger passages to promote drying. Additionally,
the corrugations form longitudinal drainage channels for any excess
perspiration which may be inside of the glove. Most importantly,
the curved corrugations minimize the total area of contact between
the form and the glove, again to promote drying. Only the apex of
each corrugation is in contact with the glove along a single line
of contact. The several advantages of the form compared to the
prior art should now be readily apparent.
FIG. 4 of the drawings shows a variant of the invention which
differs from the prior embodiment only in the shape and arrangement
of the corrugations or ribs. All other parts remain unchanged as to
structure and function and therefore need not again be illustrated
or described. The slightly modified glove form 10' in FIG. 4 has
finger extensions 22 shown in cross section which are essentially
like the previously described finger extensions 14. That is to say,
they are roughly U-shaped in cross section. However, the
corrugations or ribs 23 are formed upwardly from the roofs of the
finger extensions and may be two or more in number for each finger,
as shown. They extend longitudinally and, as in the prior
embodiment, are continued across the hand body portion of the form,
not shown in FIG. 4. The arrangement in FIG. 4 has the advantage of
being somewhat easier to die cut and vacuum form and requires a
lesser amount of material. Otherwise, the modified form is
identical to the previous embodiment.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith
shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the
same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement
of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of
the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.
* * * * *